Comments on Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' DefenseTypePad2011-07-05T12:06:24ZAndy Towlehttp://www.towleroad.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:http://www.towleroad.com/2011/07/lawrence-king-murder-trial-to-begin-with-gay-panic-defense/comments/atom.xml/toyotabedzrock commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fac1a2d970b2011-07-05T21:45:36Z2011-07-05T21:54:27ZtoyotabedzrockHe is to young to be in a adult court and that the trial took this long to start is...<p>He is to young to be in a adult court and that the trial took this long to start is messed up.<br />
</p>Tom commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337f110d970c2011-07-05T20:30:55Z2011-07-05T20:35:00ZTomhttp://QueerPublicRadio.comSomeone up there (in this comment thread) said how come the parents aren't on trial. I don't remember reading about...<p>Someone up there (in this comment thread) said how come the parents aren&#39;t on trial. <br />
I don&#39;t remember reading about Brandon&#39;s mother but I do remember reading about his father. It wasn&#39;t long after the murder occurred, Brandon&#39;s father committed suicide. <br />
I recently read about the possibility of &#39;neo-nazi sympathies&#39; in the family. </p>BobC562 commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef014e899eb84f970d2011-07-05T19:17:52Z2011-07-05T19:20:38ZBobC562McInerney was not your average 14 year old (obviously). He had a long history of premeditated violence. He came from...<p>McInerney was not your average 14 year old (obviously). He had a long history of premeditated violence. He came from a violent household, and he acted in kind. That, however, is not a defense for premeditated murder (heat of passion my ass). For example, there&#39;s video of him taken in Juvie where he just came flying across a locker room and took another kid out who was merely dressing and had his back to McInerney before the attack. He&#39;s being tried as an adult because of his background of multiple violent convictions, and the nature of his &quot;lying in wait&quot; for Larry. It&#39;s clear this kid&#39;s beyond redemption. Sorry to say it, but some people just shouldn&#39;t be out amongst society. </p>GInasf commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337e80cd970c2011-07-05T18:41:16Z2011-07-05T18:48:21ZGInasfhttp://skipthemakeup.blogspot.comThe California law (which went into effect in 2007, after the first trial of Gwen Araujo's murderers) does address use...<p>The California law (which went into effect in 2007, after the first trial of Gwen Araujo&#39;s murderers) does address use of a &#39;gay/trans panic&#39; defense. Unfortunately, it doesn&#39;t completely ban its use. It does say that bias against the victim cannot be used as a motivating factor for the defense of an accused. It also mandates that jury instructions cannot appeal to their possible bias against the victims. But there are loopholes including how the accused&#39;s bias might have impacted their mental state...etc. As with so many anti-discrimination laws, there are lots holes to drive through. :(</p>Paul R commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337e51a3970c2011-07-05T18:09:42Z2011-07-05T18:14:33ZPaul R@Phil, saying that all administrators secretly want to kill gay kids and are gleeful when they die is an appalling,...<p>@Phil, saying that all administrators secretly want to kill gay kids and are gleeful when they die is an appalling, paranoid, immature, and completely unsupported accusation. If the administrators were so hateful, they wouldn&#39;t have let King wear makeup or women&#39;s clothing---dress codes could have been created or enforced (and probably should have been if King&#39;s actions put him in such danger at such a young age).</p>
<p>Unless you&#39;re a teacher or another employee in that school, I&#39;d like to know how you&#39;re familiar with its supposed &quot;atmosphere of hate.&quot; McInerney&#39;s father is, by all accounts, a hyper masculine, antigay jerk. Maybe you should consider that, since parents affect kids a whole lot more than school administrators. Barbarism begins at home.</p>Randy commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538faaefdc970b2011-07-05T18:07:03Z2011-07-05T18:14:33ZRandyThe "gay panic" defence should get a lawyer disbarred.<p>The &quot;gay panic&quot; defence should get a lawyer disbarred. <br />
</p>Phil commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337dd7d9970c2011-07-05T16:49:17Z2011-07-05T16:55:03ZPhilThe only thing that will change the atmosphere of hate is a civil law suit against the school district. Why?...<p>The only thing that will change the atmosphere of hate is a civil law suit against the school district. Why? The bigoted kill pulls the trigger, but the bigoted school administrators set the atmosphere of hate. These administrators are living vicariously and are secretly gleeful when someone does what they want to do themselves: kill some queer kid. A civil law suit would make administrators think twice before they promote hate. Civil lawsuits always have that effect.</p>Grover Underwood commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef014e899ddd7e970d2011-07-05T16:47:09Z2011-07-05T16:55:03ZGrover Underwoodallegedly? He admits killing King!!! There is no allegedly about this!<p>allegedly? He admits killing King!!! There is no allegedly about this!</p>Dastius Krazitauc commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538faa024d970b2011-07-05T15:24:50Z2011-07-05T15:31:54ZDastius Krazitauc"Why does the sexuality of the person he shot or his motivations for shooting him matter?" Apparently, it matters, and...<p>&quot;Why does the sexuality of the person he shot or his motivations for shooting him matter?&quot;</p>
<p>Apparently, it matters, and is being discussed here, because those are the circumstances of the case. Motivations for any crime are always considered. </p>QJersey commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa9ebef970b2011-07-05T15:09:31Z2011-07-05T15:10:04ZQJerseyIf women killed every man that made an unwanted advance toward them...well there wouldn't be many straight men left.<p>If women killed every man that made an unwanted advance toward them...well there wouldn&#39;t be many straight men left.</p>Nothing Quantitative commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337d4260970c2011-07-05T15:08:52Z2011-07-05T15:10:04ZNothing QuantitativeWhy does the sexuality of the person he shot or his motivations for shooting him matter? Anyone that is going...<p>Why does the sexuality of the person he shot or his motivations for shooting him matter?</p>
<p>Anyone that is going to commit such an act towards anyone for any reason is clearly unable to participate in society in a productive manner and needs to be tossed in a cell that’s promptly welded shut.</p>
<p>Would it have been any more acceptable if a gay student had sat down behind a jock and blown his brains out for refusing his advances?<br />
</p>Matt Munson commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa9a3db970b2011-07-05T14:11:30Z2011-07-05T14:14:24ZMatt Munsonhttp://www.inlandutopia.comI thought gay panic defense is illegal in California. And if you are being sexually harassed you go to the...<p>I thought gay panic defense is illegal in California. And if you are being sexually harassed you go to the principal&#39;s office. That is what McNerry should of done instead of killing King. </p>JonBenet commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cf600970c2011-07-05T14:10:57Z2011-07-05T14:14:24ZJonBenethttp://www.twitter.com/jonbenetramseyHey Coony, of course a 14 year old can make sexual advances. But if this is his argument, it doesn't...<p>Hey Coony, of course a 14 year old can make sexual advances. But if this is his argument, it doesn&#39;t only neglect that he planned an execution style murder, it proves that the school system failed both these students in giving them an environment that was tolerant of both their feelings and a safe space to discuss sexual harassment. If this boy felt his only option to end another boy&#39;s advances was to shoot him, then we aren&#39;t properly discussing sexual harassment in our classrooms and we are harboring resentment towards undiscussed sexualities in our school systems.</p>David Ehrenstein commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef014e899cf6cf970d2011-07-05T14:04:35Z2011-07-05T14:14:24ZDavid Ehrensteinhttp://www.ehrensteinland.comAh -CHOO!<p>Ah -CHOO!</p>Oliver commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef014e899cf286970d2011-07-05T14:01:03Z2011-07-05T14:03:32ZOlivermore on this story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/04/brandon-mcinerney-gay-classmate_n_889991.html<p>more on this story:</p>
<p>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/04/brandon-mcinerney-gay-classmate_n_889991.html<br />
</p>JW commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa99154970b2011-07-05T13:58:59Z2011-07-05T14:03:32ZJWAccording to the LA Times linked article “A voluntary manslaughter conviction would prevent a life sentence, Wippert said, making McInerney...<p>According to the LA Times linked article </p>
<p>“A voluntary manslaughter conviction would prevent a life sentence, Wippert said, making McInerney eligible for release before he&#39;s 40. Even a finding of second-degree murder would virtually assure that he wouldn&#39;t be eligible for parole until he was in his 70s, his lawyers said.”</p>
<p>If this is accurate, aside from outright acquittal, which seems unlikely, the best he can hope for is jail until he is around 40. Which would mean he would have served about 25 years—after that his best case outcome is something like 55 years in jail. </p>
<p>It seems like 25 years in jail, an outcome his lawyer would consider a victory of sorts, is not to be sneezed at. <br />
</p>Oliver commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cdc3c970c2011-07-05T13:52:26Z2011-07-05T14:03:32ZOliverOh yeah, here we go again with the 'killer being the victim' routine. I hope McInernery gets to suffer years...<p>Oh yeah, here we go again with the &#39;killer being the victim&#39; routine. I hope McInernery gets to suffer years of unwanted advances in prison. </p>TampaZeke commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa9860a970b2011-07-05T13:50:27Z2011-07-05T14:03:32ZTampaZekeI thought California outlawed the "gay panic defense" a few years ago.<p>I thought California outlawed the &quot;gay panic defense&quot; a few years ago.</p>CRISPY commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cd645970c2011-07-05T13:48:12Z2011-07-05T13:48:38ZCRISPYApparently its acceptable in the USA to shoot a gay child DEAD with a bullet to the back of the...<p>Apparently its acceptable in the USA to shoot a gay child DEAD with a bullet to the back of the head if he&#39;s batting his eyelashes at you or some such nonsense.</p>
<p>With this logic, all women who wear short skirts deserved to be rape.</p>CPT_Doom commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cc3d4970c2011-07-05T13:34:58Z2011-07-05T13:37:21ZCPT_DoomWhat, no Twinkies involved at all? I mean, if you are going to recycle every vicious lie told by a...<p>What, no Twinkies involved at all? I mean, if you are going to recycle every vicious lie told by a straight man who wantonly murdered a gay man, you may as well go straight to the most successful killer of a gay man, Dan White. He managed to get only 4.5 years for two executions because one of the men was gay - it&#39;s the best use of the &quot;gay panic&quot; - really &quot;he was a faggot and therefore deserved it&quot; - defense out there. </p>
<p>Shameful and disgusting.</p>Robert commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef014e899ccca4970d2011-07-05T13:34:35Z2011-07-05T13:37:21ZRobertSchools should have stepped in?!?! Are you kidding me? Schools don't care about kids with troubles. Ask any kid who...<p>Schools should have stepped in?!?! Are you kidding me? Schools don&#39;t care about kids with troubles. Ask any kid who has to endure bullying on a regular basis. Do they get help aside from a useless assembly in September? All schools care about are A&#39;s, test scores and prestigious college acceptances. Oh yeah, and benefits.</p>yonkersconquers commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cb874970c2011-07-05T13:26:19Z2011-07-05T13:26:23ZyonkersconquersHe shot a kid in the back of the head. He shot a kid in the back of the head....<p>He shot a kid in the back of the head. He shot a kid in the back of the head. He shot a kid in the back of the head. He shot a kid in the back of the head.</p>
<p>Book him. Seriously.</p>Dastius Krazitauc commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef0154337cb355970c2011-07-05T13:22:46Z2011-07-05T13:26:23ZDastius KrazitaucThis wasn't a crime of passion, which would be spontaneous, this was literally an execution, with McInerney making sure King...<p>This wasn&#39;t a crime of passion, which would be spontaneous, this was literally an execution, with McInerney making sure King was dead by shooting him a second time in the back of the head.</p>kodiak commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa956ea970b2011-07-05T13:15:58Z2011-07-05T13:26:23ZkodiakI used the term 'coded message' because I think his murdering King says two things: 1) that he is not...<p>I used the term &#39;coded message&#39; because I think his murdering King says two things: 1) that he is not gay and won&#39;t take this &quot;abuse&quot; by a gay, 2) by murdering King, I&#39;m killing the part inside me that is attracted to guys. Number two is the coded part. </p>
<p>If this isn&#39;t about gay bashing, what is it about? </p>
<p>It&#39;s not too late for sensitivity training. It&#39;s exactly the right time for it. Maybe it will stop it from happening again. i don&#39;t know what the school did for it&#39;s students with regard to this tragedy.<br />
But I hope they did include some discussion about accepting people for who they are, or want to be.</p>gaylib commented on 'Lawrence King Murder Trial To Begin With 'Gay Panic' Defense'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c730253ef01538fa953fa970b2011-07-05T13:13:36Z2011-07-05T13:15:01ZgaylibWhy aren't his parents being charged?<p>Why aren&#39;t his parents being charged? </p>